The Montreal Meltdown

MONTREAL – The Senators felt cheated by referees Dean Morton and Eric Furlat Saturday night at Bell Centre, but they also know the blame for a 5-4 overtime loss to the Habs belonged largely with themselves.
Choking up a 4-1 lead with 3:22 left in the third period should ultimately extinguish any hope they had for a late charge into the playoffs. Not because they are mathematically dead so much as it’s hard to imagine they can bounce back from such a devastating defeat.
“I don’t really know what to say,” started defenceman Marc Methot. “It felt like we were in control, at least for a good amount of the third, it didn’t feel like we were playing on our heels. Just a couple of bad breaks, and they got confidence, they got the crowd back into it, and ultimately they ended up winning.
“At this point we want two points, if we want any chance of making the playoffs, these are games we can’t let slip out of our hands,” added Methot. “Unfortunately, this is one of those situations where we’ll look back and see this hurt us, but we’ll see.”
The Senators didn’t think the winning goal should have counted; that the whistle should have been blown because the puck was under goalie Robin Lehner.
When they asked for an explanation from the officials, they were told “it was too loud.” Nobody was quite sure what that meant.
When Bobby Ryan banged his stick on the glass and demanded answers, one of the refs pointed at his own eyes, suggesting that he saw the puck the whole time.
“I’m pretty frustrated, and I want to watch (the replay),” said Methot. “It is a loud building and communication can be pretty tough. It was almost deafening towards the end there, when they had a couple of breaks and when they scored. It’s not an easy job. From our vantage point, it looked like the puck had been frozen, but I mean, you can’t blame the entire game on that one play. There’s a lot of mess ups that we had, that led up to it. We’ve got to live with it.”
While the Senators were 0-for-3 on the power play, the Habs had seven chances with the man advantage. They only made good with one of them – the David Desharnais buzzer beater that tied the game.
Meanwhile, Jason Spezza wanted no part of the conspiracy theories that played a part in the loss.
“You guys watched the same game that I played in, we still didn’t do a good enough job once we get a 4-1 lead,” he said. “There’s always outside factors, and that was more than obvious tonight, but we still have to find a way to win that game. Doesn’t matter what the outside factors are.
“Whenever it’s a (three) goal lead, it’s a dangerous lead. We just did it to Nashville, the exact same thing. But still, it’s a (three) goal lead with three minutes left. We have to find a way to win. Regardless of what went on.”
Did the Senators panic?
“We got running around and then they got a power play … we didn’t stay calm enough. We stopped playing. We sat back the whole last 10 minutes. I don’t even know if we had a chance on their net. That’s our fault, for sure.”
Paul MacLean was asked about the frustration of watching the collapse.
“I think right now it’s frustrating, you get to the last 3 1/2 minutes and game is there to be won, but it’s a perfect example of you’ve got to play longer and harder than the opposition if you expect to win the game,” he said. “There’s going to be circumstances that happen in the game that you have to be able to control your emotions and focus on the task at hand. We didn’t do a good enough job of that when the momentum swung.”
How do the Senators regroup after such a heart-wrenching loss?
“We’ve got to,” said Clarke MacArthur. “We’ve got to finish this the right way. We’ve got to keep going. It’s sickening to say we got a point out of it, that it’s a positive. But that’s one point. We’ve got to keep moving forward. We’ve got a lot of games coming up in a short period of time. We’ve got to do what we can do here. That’s tough tonight, but at the same time, nothing in the world that we say or do is going to change anything, so we’ve got to move forward.”
First step in that direction comes Sunday, when the Senators are at home to face one of the NHL’s best teams in the Colorado Avalanche.
“I haven’t thought that far ahead,” Spezza said in a sullen Senators dressing room Saturday night. “I still can’t believe we lost that game.”

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22 comments

At what point is the coaching staff held accountable? Perhaps a time out might have calmed things down? Question… Why would any of the ufa’s want to re-sign with this team? If u don’t blame the goaltending would anderson have made a difference?

You are right Don, the Sens should get full credit for the loss, not the referees. A 4 -1 lead with less than 4 minutes left should have been safe. It wasn’t. Would you have put Zzzz on the ice in OT?

The Sens allowed a lot of shots (48) and more goals against than for (5-4). They have now allowed 218 goals this year. The Team can score goals, they just can’t prevent them which begs the question, what are the Coaches doing about it? Perhaps next practice the D will do drills withought their skates or pads, some don’t need em. Hey, practicing without sticks didn’t accomplish much (what an embarrassment).

It is amazing how some players show up for the meaningful games and others consistently do not. Subban showed up, “when his Team needed him most”.

I don’t think Karly gets the puck to Hoffman enough on the PP. Often the Hoff was open on the right side and Karly preferred passing the puck left or taking a shot that had no chance fo gettting through and was blocked. The Hoff showed off a lot of poise, some sick mits, fantastic shot and…blazing speed! Get him the puck! Zzzz certainly can’t!

Mikey is stuck with Zzzz for sure as much as Smitty is stuck with Greening and Neil. Neil didn’t perform all the theatrics against Edmonton or Calgary. But he was the Big show in Montreal going after Eller and company. He used to be a honest hockey player but now he is just dirty hockey player who is very selective who he targets.

Can the Team move forward Don. I guess it depends on what you mean. This hockey club allows a lot of goals but the DAC doesn’t mind a defencemen who thinks he is a forward. He has no issues with him caught up the ice many times every game! He doesn’t care that he is on the ice for many goals scored against (far more that goals scored for). He doesn’t care that the hockey player doesn’t care. Move forward? Can the team move forward with a 20 year old who is another who doesn’t care? Lets forget about the numbers, where is the effort, speed, skill, amazing shot, passing, physicality, draws, competitiveness????? Move forward; how can that be done if the DAC wont penalize those who continually take needless penalties! Move forward? Can that really be done when a player who competed every shift ever game, with 20 points playing limited minutes and wore a plus 8 was let go?

I think it is high time to discuss the reality of the situation. Some talking points should include: what’s happened to Ryan after he scored 20 goals; why is Zzzz dressing for games; is the coaching staff capable;is Greening helping the hockey club, is Neil and are they in the picture for the 4th year of the 3 year rebuild; isn’t Wiercoch better than some who played last night; is the GM capable?

When did celebrating a goal become taboo? Why is the CBC delivering this meassage? It’s not enough that a kids can be vilified for scoring an amazing goal, now they can’t eve celebrate one! What nonsense.

That was pathetic – no excuses and the team looked like children racing after the ref and complaining like that.

There could have been some calls but in the end these are pros with a 3 goal lead and a little over 180 seconds remaining – they froze and choked, end of story. At least it was in Montreal and no Senators fans had to endure the taunts and cat-calls while they walked out of their own building.

Guess it is time to get ready to watch Turris, MacArthur and perhaps Spezza (although after having a back injury and having a young family not sure he would participate) play at the Worlds…maybe Zibanejad will get the call for Sweden too. I wonder if Ceci and Hoffman can both go back down to help with the AHL play-off run?

Rght on Amy! But you can extend the accountability across the board and include the usual suspects who don’t show up when it matters most and the GM. What do you expect from the Sens today against the Avalanche today Amy?

The media and most fans can dance around the real issues that plague this Franchise, but at some point they will need to be addressed. This team is awful, the Coaching staff is the same (they are, what, 10, 11 and 12 the GM has had here in his 7 years as GM?). The Franchise is in disarray and again, you are absolutely correct Amy, what great free agent would want to come to Ottawa???!!!

Most fans have lowered their standards consideralby; they celebrate small victories (skills competitions) and awful players. Some here (one actually, Dave) now thinks players who rack up fantastic numbers in the QHL are terrible NHLers!!! l suspect, like me, you would prefer to have 6-4 inch French Canadians who have proven they can score and compete in the Q and more importantly in NHL over Swedes who play on the periphery (and one who couldn’t even cut in the SEL). I want some great French Canadians on this team. We have had enough soft and afraid Swedes. I have had enough NCAA players (who did the full go), I prefer kids who graduated from CHL!!!!

I look at where teams like Winnipeg, Colorado, St Louis, Columbus and others are and compare them to what Murray has done here in 7 long years at the helm. It is a dam shame.

Wow, the one time I want the Sens to win and that happens. Terrible officiating, conspiracy theory or not there are a awful lot of funky calls that go the home teams way at the Bell, maybe it’s the atmosphere, something.
The more I watch this team I really wonder if the coach of the year and his assistants coach very much at all. Seems like some players, especially this generations greatest player, (alleged), seem to do what ever they want. Staying on the ice for 2 minutes and 20 seconds is desirable evidently. The fact that Karlsson made a great pass at the end of that shift masks that these self indulgent extreme long shifts are a losing proposition. As Canada’s Olympic team demonstrated winning hockey is best achieved by a full team playing as a unit sacrificing personal stats for the good of team. This seems to be lost on the coach of the year, strange because he spent so long in Detroit and they have always appeared to stress team over individual. Maybe the coach is forced to follow the agenda of the owner/manager who seem to be heavily invested in promoting the star power of Karlsson weirdly at the expense of overall team success. And speaking of the owner any chance he brings out the vaunted CSI team to investigate last nights events? I’m sure he has the crack squad on retainer.
Last nights craziness wasn’t without its comic relief the Big Show strapped on his cape at 4-1 on got hisself throwed out. Just as Mcgrattan and Franzen amongst others have pointed out. Anywhere anytime with a lot of conditions, as set by the Big Show.

My Sen victory prediction over Montreal was spot on for 59 minutes and 59 seconds.
It is time the entire coaching crew is called into question, especially Maclean. With all the talent on this team, at least that is what I am told by all the hockey experts and media, why are we doing so poorly? Considering our defensive woes, can anyone really explain what purpose or benefit having the players practice without sticks accomplishes? If someone thinks a bunch of millionaires will suddenly play better as a result of practising with no sticks, then they truly believe in jargon, rhetoric and plain stupidity. Last time I looked, hockey was played with sticks. What’s next, practising with gooloshes on and a tennis ball? Lucky for us that Colorado are not in a must win situation today. The Gods will be on ourside today after last nights meltdown.

Sorry Bobby but you don’t get to put the skills competition and Q players deal on me – that is all you and anyone who reads here knows it.

YOU brought up the skills competition – both making fun of Zibby FOR winning one and then in the same breath deriding Karlsson for NOT winning one (which of course you were completely wrong about). Hypocrite and poor comprehension skills rolled into one.

Same with the talk of the Q. It was YOU who brought up how great all the players in Canada are compared to anywhere else and many times a day you come on here to whine about Zibanejad so I just thought it was interesting to note a player picked ahead of Zibanejad – one who had demolished the Q – was posting worse numbers than the utter failure Zibanejad.

Hypocrite with poor comprehension skills back in action.

Amy agree completely – there has to be some answer as to why the team D has been so poor for so long and while youngsters on the back end and all over the line-up has something to do with it, the coaching has to be taken to task for sure.

I went out for a bottle of wine for dinner and listened to Menzies, Murray Wilson, Gord Wilson and our Donny. Some here would have been very proud of Donny…he said he hates the way Karlsson plays his own end, that he doesnt care and doesn’t even make an effort. Donny said he is only interested in accumulating points and setting records. Aint it the truth though. If Donny is willing to say it, I wonder how long it will take for some of the “believers” here to buy in? Again…very good on you Donny-boy! I think it speaks volumes about the kid, the Coach and the Organization.

If the members of the media know a player who gets 30 minutes of ice-time a game doesn’t give a damn about team oriented goals (WINS!!!!!!) don’t you think the players themselves are aware???? How does it make them feel. If the DAC can’t make Karlsson care…how the hell can the Captain?

Isn’t it a little bit conspicuous that Methot is minus 5 in the last 6 games? Isn’t it conspicuous that the Spezza’s line is plus 9 in the last 5? When did Hemsky arrive?

Zzzz got more icetime and more PP time than Hoffman today, can someone please explain to me why? He was on the ice in the last moments with the goalie pulled and again Hoffman was on the bench, why? Isn’t it abundantly clear now that we see them at the same time, the star in Bingo when they were both there, was the Hoff not Zzzzz. The organization wants him to be successful….hell, he had to score a goal sometime; this was his 5th in 39 games but it came with a man advantage with seconds left in the game and the team behind by 3 goals. The shooter was again awful at the dots and had only two shots….one of them came with less than a minute left with the goalie pulled.

My question is this…if the Organization allows a player to ignore the team and pursue individual success only, what does it say about how much they respect the other players on the team who bleed for a win and we fans who want the Team to be succesful? It is no wonder the Organization can’t attract great free agents and I will bet anyone that Ryan will be gone at the first opportunity.

I am typing away while watching the Winnipeg – Dallas game. The ‘Peg is up 3 -2 after one. The 19 year old Trouba scored another goal and the team is extremely entertaining. The game is outstanding (I love watching Dallas as well, Seguin, the imature kid not good enough for Team Canada got is 30th goal and 69th point). I look at where the Jets, Columbus, Toronto and others who entertain, then look at the Sens. Its time to bring some class and respectablilty back. It is time to change the culture with a single set of standards. Time for an overhaul.

Dave, can I call you Dave, Dave? There is no ‘deal” and the only thing I may put on you are questions! Are we to assume you prefer the SEL (now the SHL) to Major Junior Hockey in Canada? Do you really think Zzzz is better than the Huberdeau…the 6-4 French Canadian kid who starred in the furtile CHL that feeds the NHL more than another other league? You really think Zzzz is better than a kid who was Rookie of the Year in the NHL? Damn you are stubborn man!

I can appreciate great players and fun teams that our outside the NCR, you and others here can’t. Because I love heart and passion as well as skill, I am described as a Montreal Canadian fan. The fact is Dave, I love watching many teams, including Winnipeg!

Yes Dave, I am old, angry, hater, racist, prejudiced, idiot, biggot, hypocrite with poor comprehension skills, but I do love the sport. But I wont celebrate anything, simply because I am told to. You can admit to Karlsson not even trying (several times this year) but it doesn’t seem to matter to you. Lets forget about XYZ Zzzz, he is simply useless as can be, do you think quitting is acceptable?

A good question for you Dave, is, do you think there is any merit in what Donny says about Karlsson not trying in is own end, not caring about anything but personal stats and setting records? This shouldn’t be a revelation, we have seen evidence of it for a long time! Some here have been writing about it for a long time! What is your take Dave….why do you think it’s acceptable to chase personal goals only? Why do you think is if OK for a defenceman to not even try in his own end?

You said you agree with Amy about holding individuals to account…so why not Karlsson? Perhaps you’re right Dave….I do have a comprehension problem, I can’t comprehend how you can be so forgiving of some (and there’s only 2) who don’t even make an effort. Afterall, hockey is a Team GAME.

I really believe it’s time for a coaching change. The Sens are terrible defensively game after game, and were almost as bad last year, except last year, their goalies all stood on their heads. I still believe, that with the talent the Sens have, they should at least be able to play defence in their own end. Yes they have some young d, but enough is enough. There is no improvement. I think MacLean is i over his head as a head coach.

Has anyone seen or heard from Eugene? I wonder what he is honestly thinking right now? So much for the rebuild. This summer should be more interesting than last summer. Personally I think the coaching staff should be replaced but I doubt Eugene will want to spend the cash to tear up existing contracts. New talent is needed and to do this I think players like Anderson, Neil, Philipps, Greening, Smith, Condra etc… hell tbe entire team should be exposed for trade purposes. It wii be a big mistake if Maclean is brought back.

Dominating Major Juior Hockey in Canada isnt easy, afterall, more NHLers have played in the CHL than anyother league in the world. Perhaps that is why, when a particular player dominates, all the NHL GMs and every member of their staff take notice. But it goes beyond merely taking notice, over 50% of the players taken in the Entry Draft every year come from of the CHL. Oh yes, 60% of NHLers are Canadian. Dominating Major Junior Hockey in Canada isn’t easay at all!

I wonder what is wrong with Marc Methot. He is “struggling” (is he hurt again and needs to be sat down for a couple of games?). Through October, November and December, the Sen’s best defencive defenceman was minus 5, but remarkably his game turned around January. Methot finished the month plus 8! Then, for some inexplicable reason, Marc’s “struggling” again and sits at minus 5 for the month of February.

Similarly, Captain Spezza’s numbers have been bad. From October through to the end of January, Spezza sported a spectacularly bad minus 24! But, for the month of February, he turned it around and sits at plus 2! What may have happend that he could go from posting consistently bad +/- such as: Oct -5, Nov -6, Nov -3, Dec -5 and Jan -5, to + 2 in February?

Perhaps the Methot and Spezza X Files will go unexplained; however I one of but a few who believes “the truth is out there”.

Ah Bob, Robert, Booby, Boob. There you go again. Putting words in people’s mouths and making all kinds of wild accusations. Yet you “really want” dialogue.

I will write like you write and let’s see if that gets you to engage in dialogue.

So my poor foolish old man you really think that being -22 and 4th worst for Centers in the entire NHL is worthy of celebation?!?!!?!?!? Now we are left to believe you love players who are on the ice for FAR more goals against than scored?!?!?!?!?!?

I can appreciate special players all around the league but you are incapable and are obviously a homer because NOBODY would possibly say that a player with so many GVA (and so FEW TKA’s) and so few hits and such a terrible +/- is a star. I guess we are to believe that you have different rules for different players. I guess you only like good old Canadian boys and that is so very silly when there are so many other good players around.

Now I hear you complaining about Karlsson – how convenient now that you can be led around by your ear by the MEDIA you poor, pathetic simpleton. No doubt you mimic all the things the people in the media say. Some day you may open your eyes and realize there are LOTS of good players all over the league but sadly you fool you just keep stating how great Spezza is despite ALL OF THE EVIDENCE AGAINST THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Too bad you are so foolish, dimwitted and not like me. If you were more like me you would complain about things CONSISTENTLY and take things OUT OF CONTEXT and add WILD ASSUMPTIONS to the mix as well.

Sad, you are too much of a tool, fool, ignoramus, Blobby, Booby, Roberty Robby.

Now reply to my post because I want to engage in CONVERSATION YOU LOSER.

You said that Spezza was the best player ever and that all players in the CHL are by far the best players in the world – of course you would, because the MEDIA tell you that.

Get an original thought – explore the world, give yourself an opportunity to have an original thought.

So now Z.,Smith is the best 2nd line center in the world? How sad for you to think that. The guy is -8!!!!! That means he is on the ice for more goals against than for!!!!! He has more goals than assists so that means he doesn’t have ANY IDEA how to pass. At least not like SPEZZA, the greatest player of all time.

Now really, stop being so silly and post something else that I want to talk about. I keep asking you to have a conversation you foolish nitwit. Now hurry up!!! Post something, anything original. We all know you think Spezza and Smith are the best players in the world and you are so silly to believe it no matter what we say.

Please, for the love of everything, post something original and worthy of me to post about. I know you love Karlsson and Zibanejad as well but really, they suck and shouldn’t even be in the league. They are from Sweden so they are garbage – I already told you only kids from the CHL are any good.

The plus-minus stat can often be very misleading. For example, most players on the upper echelon teams are plus players, while the opposite prevails on the lower tier teams. A fifth or sixth defenceman on a good team can often lead the entire league in plus-minus because he rarely plays against the top scorers on opposition teams. It can be the polar opposite on lower tier teams for players like Spezza who consistantly play against the opponents top scorers. Therefore, if you were to believe the plus-minus stat all of the time, almost every player on a top tier team would be better than every player on a lower tier team which is obviously not true.

I still say it’s time for a coaching change. I’d like to see Jacques Martin brought back. What a shame it will be for the Sens to not make the playoffs and not have a 1st round pick.

Re Zibby. It appears that Courturier was the better pick, but hopefully Zibby will still develop into a useful player. He does have to rev up his tenacity level.

Danny-boy, I never put much stock in the Coach of the Year award. Teams and even goalies have effectively won the awards for Coaches over the years. It’s another award to be dished out at the end of the year and it makes good copy and I understand it…I just don’t care that much, afterall, Dum Cherry won one. Like the Leavue MVP award, Coach of the Year is chosen by the NHL Broadcasters Association. When ever votes determine winners, the legitimacy of some winners can be questioned. I perfer awards that are determined by quantifiable/measurable criteria. I unerstand why there are Hart and Jack Adams, I just don’t care.

Yes Mikey, the Coach and his assistants should go (for all the reasons that have written about, all too often). But lets look at the bigger picture here, if they go as you say they should, what does it say about the GM? Wasn’t he the guy who hired them all: Paddock, Harstburg, CLOULESS (“Little General”) and Maclean? Another question is, did he ever allow his coaches to select their own Assistants? I don’t know about you Mikey but I think 12 coaches (and I am not including some goalie coaches, remember the very fly Ely?) in 7 years is a tiny bit over the top, don’t you?

We’ll see a big, fast, talented kid tonight who road the pines under Yosemite Sam. Kreider is 6′, 3″ tall and weighs 223 pounds and he skates like the wind! He is one who truly can “go around or through you”. This year he’s scored 17 goals and has 18a and leads the team with plus 12! It’s ineresting how hockey players can thrive with some coaches and some “underperform” with others.

As much as I respect St Louis as a hockey player, I have little respect for him off the ice. I always found him to be arrogant and pretentious. I can’t say his 2a and no goals in 7 games since demanding a trade out of Tampa makes me feel sad at all. Can you imagine the arrogance of the man? Seguin wasn’t invited to play for team Canada, neither was James Neal, Duchene and Benn were afterthoughts. Because of his enormous ego, St Louis tarnished his reputation and his legacy (what will be remembered) in Tampa and around the league forever. I wonder, when his career is over, if he will regret his decision. I suspect he does already but will never, ever admit it.

After 57 games, Philips has 1g and 13a and is minus 8 this year. The DAC has him playing regular shift, killing PK and even PP time!? He left “a lot of money” on the table by giving the Team a “home town discount”. Really? Why he plays and Wiercoch sits defies reason! In only 42 games Wiercoch has 4g and 13 assits and is zero in the +/-. Had he played 57 games, like Philips, Dubya would have 23 points, good for second among D). Wiercoch is younger, has a better shot (The Big Rig’s shot topped out at 91 mph), has infinitely better hands, has a longer reach, better +/-. yet he sits. Can someone/anyone explain it to me? Philips is here for 2 more years, go figure.

Good for you Mikey, you are willing to concede the Coaches aren’t performing up to snuff, that a slug from the Q is better than Zzzz who starred in the SEL…sorry, he sat on the bench in the SEL. Good for you to be very polite and offer Zzzz “needs to up his tenacity level”. What’s fascinating is some…one…here thinks all is good. It could have been interpretted at the start of the year, when Zzz was sent down for his lack of effort/lack of committment, there was something very wrong and obviously missing.

Isn’t it fascinating and amusing, that Smitty (a 100/100 in the WJH) is now a terrible hockey player. Some…one…here prefered Daisey the Air Rifle. When I posted, way back when, Smitty should dress and play, predictably, Dave took the opposite point of view. I think Smitty (I don’t think he will mind me calling him Smitty) could be one of the best 3rd or 4th line centers if he had some players around him. He, unlike the 50-50 point man, Zzz, actually wants the puck and can do something with it.

I love the name calling! Most of the 16 new ones today, I have called myself! For the first time, Dave and I are on the same page! I just lost a bet. The name calling excercise may have been first time in months/years he actually excercised his brain; he realy should thank me. Davey, your welcome!

Spezza isn’t the best of all time and I don’t think anyone really suggested he was. But he has averaged well over a point a game in his career and is plus 48. He’s a plus player in spite of having to carry Karlsson’s defiant disregard for defence around with him every game and he has carried Zzzz, the 212 pound paper weight as well. Everyone remotely familiar with the game has acknowledged Milan is not the same player and his minus 21 speaks to it. Of all the 10 wingers Spezza’s played with this year, only Conacher and Ryan are in the plus column and only one scored more than 11 goals (Zzz’s 5th in 39 games with 6 seconds left….so the GM could save face).

I wonder how Dave feels about Landeskog, I really like him so by default, Davey should hate him. He could add quite a few others to his hate list ‘caise I like: Landeskog, Haglan, Ekman-Larson, Zetterberg, Kronwall, Franzen, Nyquist, Hedman…and I can go on. Why do I like the way they play even though they are Swedes? All of you will know the answer but I will say it again because Dave chooses to ingnore it, they play with passion, they make the effort, they want to win and are willing to pay the price. Zzz is just an awful hockey player but it is all the more reason he should “engage”; Karly, as I and most recently Donny hace said, is only interested in personal wins and doesn’t give a damn about the team.

I’ve posted a few times……made many of my (admittedly) unqualified opinions be known. Made some calls on many subjects. But Dave takes the opinions of an old fool so darmn personally (if 61 one is old).

It was nice to see the Avs play – they certainly have a ton of skill and Varlamov looks like the real deal too. MacKinnon has speed to burn and no doubt he will be the next superstar…shifty, strong and determined, what more could you ask?

Zibanejad showed his shot but it was meaningless and unless he can find a way to get that shot off from legit scoring areas during a game what good is it? Still waiting for him to flash some creativity and hoping youth will be on his side as he develops a bit more confidence to hold on to the puck.

I said it all along and now I am even more convinced that Spezza was ailing early in the season. He started to get his game in gear after the New Year but since the Olympic break he has shown far more speed than he did the entire season. Very happy to see him back to where he should be and also happy that Murray isn’t like the knee-jerk fans who wanted to see Spezza traded.

Will be interesting to see what, if any, FA D make their way here and if we can sign Hemsky.That alone would allow the lines to be a little more established.

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About the authors

Bruce Garrioch is an award-winning journalist and a must-read in the hockey community. A Day-Oner at the Ottawa Sun, Garrioch is one of the top sports journalists in the country, covering the Senators since their return to the NHL in 1992-93. A 2009 winner of an Ontario Newspaper Award for his coverage of the Dany Heatley saga, Garrioch has a strong ability to break news and brings inside information with his Sunday NHL column, one of the most popular in the country. It is read by GMs, players and coaches who want the inside scoop. Garrioch has covered the 2008 Stanley Cup final for Sun Media, the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City and 2006 Games in Turin, Italy. Mainly, Garrioch has the pulse of the Ottawa Senators. If people want to know what's happening they turn to him to get the info on contracts, negotiations, signings, trades and, of course, games.

Don Brennan is a Day 1 employee of the Ottawa Sun. He has spent the majority of his 23 years as a sports reporter/columnist, covering the Senators since their return to the NHL in 1992, and prior to that writing about the Rough Riders, 67's and other sports. Brennan also wrote a Page 6 column in the Sun for nine months. A native of North Bay, Brennan moved to attend Centennial College in 1978. He remained in Toronto for a decade, working first as a freelancer, than an editor with the Toronto Sun. Brennan has lived in Ottawa full time ever since.

Don Brennan and Bruce Garrioch are Ottawa's all-star hockey writing duo, and will be regularly contributing to Off The Posts.

Their combined experience covering local, national and international hockey means they have the sources to get the inside information on the Senators and the NHL which might not be available to others.

Check back often for notes, quotes and commentary. They might even disagree with each other once in awhile.